Meri Abbado’s journey into the world of fitness and bodybuilding is nothing short of extraordinary. Originally from Croatia, Meri came to the United States 32 years ago with her then-husband and a newborn baby. She was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom, raising her two sons for most of her life. However, at the age of 43, Meri faced a life-altering moment—a hysterectomy—that propelled her into a journey of self-discovery and transformation. Today, she is an IFBB Pro Champion and a licensed personal trainer, inspiring women over 40 to take charge of their health and fitness.
A New Beginning
Meri dedicated her early years in the U.S. to her family. She spoke with pride about her role as a mother, saying, “Raising my sons was and still is the most important role of my life, and I’m very proud of the men they’ve become.” Her life started to change, however, when she underwent a hysterectomy at 43 as a newly divorced single mom to her two teenage sons. The surgery and new life circumstances affected her both physically and emotionally, leaving her in a place where she felt the need to reclaim her strength and well-being.
“For the first time in my life, I felt the need to start exercising,” Meri recalled.
She began with simple home exercises, using a treadmill and a few weights. What started as a way to recover from surgery soon became a passion as she began to experience the benefits of regular exercise.
“My home gym grew little by little,” she said, adding that she eventually created a Facebook page to document her workouts. To her surprise, the page took off, and today, she has nearly 100,000 followers, most of whom are women aged 40 to 65.
The Transition to Bodybuilding
Encouraged by the positive feedback from her growing online community, Meri decided to take her fitness journey to the next level. She realized that she needed more knowledge and training to offer proper advice to her followers. “At first, I didn’t feel comfortable giving advice to other women because I was not a professional,” Meri confided. This led her to become a licensed personal trainer, and it was during this time that her manager suggested she try competing in bodybuilding.
At the time, Meri knew nothing about bodybuilding. But her curiosity was piqued, and she began researching the sport online. Eventually, she enrolled in a local bodybuilding contest, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
“The rest is history,” she said with a smile. What started as a personal quest for health turned into a professional pursuit of excellence.
Challenges and Growth
Transitioning from home workouts to professional bodybuilding wasn’t an easy process, but it happened organically for Meri. “It took a couple of years to move from home workouts to joining a gym, and then after a year, hiring a coach,” she reflected.
Her training routine evolved from basic cardio and strength exercises to a rigorous regimen including weightlifting, cardio, stretching, posing, and even yoga. Today, her training can take four to six hours a day, spread across multiple sessions.
One of Meri’s most significant challenges was balancing her demanding training schedule with her responsibilities as a personal trainer and mother. However, she feels fortunate to have a flexible schedule. “I have a home studio where I train my clients, so it’s very convenient and saves me a lot of time,” she said. Most of her clients are lifestyle clients aged 40 to 75, and she also offers posing classes for competitors.
Meri is quick to acknowledge that not all women have the luxury of such flexibility, but she believes in the importance of making time for fitness. “Things just work out for me in a way that I can get the most out of my day for my training,” she explained.
Inspiring Others
Meri’s journey has become a source of inspiration for many women, especially those over 40 who may feel intimidated or unsure of where to begin their fitness journey. Her advice is simple yet powerful: “Find something you really enjoy doing. That’s the best guarantee that you will stick to the program and achieve results.”
She emphasized the importance of consistency, treating exercise time like any other important meeting. “Fitness needs to become an essential part of your lifestyle,” she stressed. For those who feel intimidated by the gym, she reassures them that “everyone there is so focused on themselves that no one cares what the other person does or how they look.”
Staying Motivated
Meri’s success is not just about physical strength; it’s about mental resilience and determination.
“If you really want something in your life, you will always find the way and motivation to do it,” she asserted. For Meri, motivation is fleeting; what truly matters is discipline, structure, and consistency.
“If you fail at some point, it’s not a big deal. You check it off and continue where you stopped,” Meri advised. She also addresses the common misconception that motivation alone is enough to achieve one’s goals. “Motivation comes and goes,” she said. “What you actually need is determination, grit, discipline, hard work, and persistence.”
The Importance of Starting Early
As a strong advocate for women’s health, Meri encourages women to start their fitness journey as early as possible, especially as they approach midlife. “After 45, women experience so many changes in their bodies, starting with hormonal changes, which is huge,” she explained.
Exercise has been a crucial tool in managing these changes for Meri, and she believes it can have the same impact on others.
“I’m nothing special,” she insisted. “I know that if it works for me, it will work for other women.” Her message is clear: it’s never too late to start, but the sooner you do, the better.
Personal Impact
Meri Abbado’s transformation from a stay-at-home mom to an IFBB Pro Champion is not just a personal victory; it’s a powerful narrative that resonates with countless women who find themselves at a crossroads in life. Her journey underscores the idea that life’s most profound changes often begin with a single, seemingly small decision. For Meri, it was the choice to start exercising after her hysterectomy, a decision driven by the need to reclaim her health and well-being. This initial step set off a chain reaction, leading her to discover a passion for fitness that she never knew existed.
What makes Meri’s story truly inspiring is her unwavering commitment to self-improvement, even in the face of challenges and doubts. She didn’t start with lofty goals of becoming a bodybuilder or a fitness icon; she started with the simple aim of feeling better about herself. This humility and grounded approach make her achievements all the more relatable and attainable for others. Her success is a testament to the idea that anyone, regardless of age or background, can make significant changes in their lives if they are willing to do the work and remain consistent.
Moreover, Meri’s story serves as a beacon of hope for women, particularly those over 40, who might feel it’s too late to embark on a fitness journey. She has proven that age is not a barrier but a mere number that does not define one’s potential or capability. By starting her fitness journey at 43 and becoming a world champion by 53, Meri challenges the societal norms that often suggest physical decline as an inevitable part of aging. Instead, she demonstrates that with determination, discipline, and a positive mindset, it’s possible to maintain and significantly improve one’s physical and mental health well into the later stages of life.
Meri’s emphasis on consistency, discipline, and self-belief is a crucial takeaway for anyone looking to make a change in their lives. She believes the key to success is not fleeting motivation but daily commitment to one’s goals. Her advice to women—to find an activity they enjoy and treat their fitness routine with the same importance as any other obligation—speaks to the importance of integrating health and wellness into one’s lifestyle rather than viewing it as a chore or a temporary project.
Meri’s story strongly reminds us of the transformative power of fitness. It’s not just about building muscle or losing weight; it’s about reclaiming control over one’s body and mind, fostering resilience, and cultivating a sense of accomplishment that permeates all areas of life. Her journey illustrates that fitness can drive profound personal growth, offering physical benefits, mental clarity, emotional stability, and a deep sense of empowerment.
As Meri continues to inspire others through her work as a personal trainer and her online presence, she is helping redefine what it means to age, especially for women. She encourages women to view their health and fitness as non-negotiable aspects of their lives, take action before it’s too late, and recognize the incredible potential within them, regardless of their age. Her story is a call to action for women everywhere to start today, to make time for themselves, and to believe in their ability to transform their lives, one step at a time.
Meri Abbado’s journey is not just about personal triumph; it’s a blueprint for anyone looking to make a meaningful change in their life. Her message is clear: it’s never too late to start, and the rewards of taking that first step are limitless. By sharing her story, Meri has become a symbol of strength, resilience, and the limitless potential of the human spirit—a true inspiration for anyone striving to overcome challenges and achieve their personal best.
Meri Abbado’s journey from a homemaker to an IFBB Pro Champion is a testament to the power of determination, discipline, and passion. Her story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to start taking care of our bodies and that the rewards of fitness go far beyond physical appearance.
As Meri emphasized, “If you take care of your body, the body will reward you.” And in her case, the rewards have been nothing short of remarkable.
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